The annual fundraiser supports the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf. Adults pay $10 and students $8 to receive an empty handmade ceramic bowl and soup to fill it. Dinner also includes bread, a beverage and dessert, donated by Chartwells, the campus food service providers.

The empty bowl symbolizes those bowls void of food around the world.

The idea for the Empty Bowls dinner at SUNY Plattsburgh originated more than a dozen years ago from Beryl Matthews, an associate professor of art who has since retired. She learned about the project at a ceramics conference. Since her retirement, the project has been shepherded by Assistant Professor Ali Della Bitta, who, like Matthews, is also a contributor. Students from Momot and Oak Street elementary schools, and artists from the community round out the roster of ceramicists.